KO GYM
F.M.A
At the beginning of my search, for qualified individuals, to be referee or judges for an event in “South Asian Kickboxing”;I met Richard O’Connor.
We connected right away at our first meeting, having quite some similar past; him in the army; me in the police. A 20 year military veteran, and ex Army combative instructor, Richard is the trainer of Muay Thai at Franklin Martial Arts, where Andrew Wallace teaches also Tae Kwon Do, and Shane Brady, a brown belt under Bruno Souza, teaches Jiu Jitsu. The school has a very warm and friendly atmosphere, where everybody seems to knows each other.. It’s configuration allowed different classes to be taught at the same time. A room all the way to the back of the building, divided by a curtains is where the action take place, for Muay Thai.. Behind a glass window I witnessed first hand the training of a fleet of “young” fighters, by their relatively new experience, but not for their Skills set(Mike Ellis), their heart( Cullen Wetherell), their fighting spirit (Blacked eyed, at the time, Rebecca Grady) their determination and focus ( Rebecca Allen). Soon , all of them guaranteed, trough the hand of Richard, and couple of fights with Noboundaryfight promotion to be seasoned fighters!!!!
I have no doubt that this school will play a big part in the years to come ,in The Muay Thai fight scene in Massachusetts.
CCFA
Loacated at 3095 Crandberry Highway in Wareham Ma, Cape Cod Fighting Alliance, is the School of “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Pat Schultz.
Originally from Wareham and ex Hockey Player, Pat opened up the school to teach MMA, Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai/Kickboxing.
Even on that Rainy day, I visited his school, on my quest to find good fighters for the Noboundaryfight event, the gym was fairly busy with people bouncing around, jumping rope, and hitting the bags.
In Plain view in one of the main wall , were display several trophy belts, as a reminder to some glorious fighting days!!
As I was admiring them, Chip “The surgeon” Moraza-Pollard made is entrance to the gym as his class was about to begin.I realized then that some of those belts must have been around his waist at one point..!!
It was amazing to remember him fighting on my first MMA show 8 years ago, and seeing him now teaching a class of Muay Thai! If you are living in the Cape, and plan on training MMA, Muay Thai, Jujitsu, or even staying fit for the summer, CCFA is your ” Gate opener” of the Cape Cod’s Gyms!
Broadway
Home of John Clarke and Long time Muay thai expert Steve Soriano, Broadway Gym (Team Carlson Gracie),is located at 36 W Broadway in South Boston.
Besides being in front of the train station for those with no cars, parking was a challenge there until I found out about a parking lot on the back of the building…After a few steps down, I emerged into a spacious open Space with a lot of Mats room and high ceilings…A Jiu-Jitsu class was being given on the right inside, but that wasn’t the focus of my attention…
On the second open space was Steve wearing the typical outfit for a Muay Thai trainer… 2 Hand Pads with shin guards and the padded belt,.. on which one of his beginner student was pounding some loud low and Middle kicks. Just after a few minutes only of observing the different students striking the line of punching bags and each other, I realized the high level of Muay Thai teaching that was taking place there!
It wasn’t really coming as a surprise, knowing Steve background with Guy Chase, Boston Muay Thai, Bill Newcomb and many more over 30 years of experience…
My memories of training at his school in Revere back in 2001 were coming back in a non stop flow…Quickly interrupted by a nice talk with Steve regarding the upcoming event Of Noboundaryfight in June 25th, and the possibility of having some Broadway’s fighters at the event.
I walked out of the place, thinking of the meaning of the quote from Pierre de Coubertin, displayed on one of the main wall of the gym :
“The important thing in life is not Victory but combat, it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well..”
It was making me proud ( beside being French…) that the moral values from the founder of the Olympic committee were held as a high standard in this Gym..
M-PLEX Full report
Coming soon.
Sityodtong
After training 19 years ago at Fairtex Muay Thai in San Francisco when I first arrived in the US, it was only logic to come and train at Sityodtong, when I moved to New England in the summer of 2001. Adding to the fact that, my good friend Guy Chase,recently relocated as well, was the one who introduced Kru Marc Dellagrotte,to the art of the Eight Limbs, beside being his Kali/Silat and Jeet Kun Do Instructor.
Fast forward 7 years, and my Little career in pro MMA, came to an end; and with it years of training at Sityodtong. Now on the verge of promoting my first event in Muay Thai, it was only inevitable to come back to the source and ask for the support of, now a reference in the fighting MMA scene, Kru Mark Dellagrotte.
When I arrived at first, I felt confused as the little door, on Cluster st, that used to gave us access to the training room is now locked..The main entrance now is off Broadway st as Mark and is wife Mary took over the all building, where Mark’s father used to have a Law Office.
I was afraid that with the expansion the school will loose some of it’s character, and wouldn’t feel as “personal” as it used to be..
Well that feeling,quickly vanished, as soon as i opened the front door…Mary who was sitting at the front desk,greetings the students, recognized me right away, and even after all those years, she gave me such a welcoming receiving.. that it really felt like “family”…
And that’s what it is; it’s all about Family! From the numerous pictures Of Kru Mark with the who’s who of MMA,and the pictures of the lineage of Kru Yodtong in Thailand covering the walls, you understand that when you sign for a membership there, you become part of the Sityodtong family!And as long as you stay true to yourself, honest and loyal, ( values that tend to disappear nowadays…people will know who i am talking about!!) you will have access to a tremendous source of knowledge in the art of Combat.
The facility now spacious( For Sommerville ) can accommodate comfortably ,at the same time, a number of students, in several defined area.. Cages, rings, heavy bags and Matts seems to be in every rooms.And the best part of it, the “downstairs” room is still opened and being used for a Jujistsu class. Wrestling program is coming too..
As I go back to my car, my head full of memories, I promised myself, that as soon as my knee healed, I will be back for some awsome sparring sessions!!!
www.Sityodtong.com
Hard Knocks Muay Thai
Situated at 98 Business st in Hyde Park Ma, Hard knocks Muay Thai is a little Hidden Gem..!
Kru Bill Newcomb, owner, trainer and coach,will teach you the art of the eight limb from beginners to advance levels.
Private are also available all week long.
The Gym features a 18′ x 18′ ring, matted floor, heavy bags, focus mitt,Thai Pads..
Kru Bill keep his fighters busy by having them participating to most of the local events scheduled..
Everybody is working in every corners of the Gym. The atmosphere is electric!!
It’s funny how life come to full circle, as 15 years ago i used to train and spar at Kru Bill gym in Revere, when he was still with his longtime friend Kru Steve Soriano.
If you are in search in the real deal in Muay thai, do not look further!
Kickboxing and Muay thai schools list
- BISHOP BOXING
- BONEYARD
- CARLSON GRACIE
- CCFA
- EIGHT LIMB MUAY THAI
- FAF
- F.M.A
- FRANKLIN MARTIAL ARTS
- GINSBERG ACADEMY
- GUY CHASE ACADEMY
- HARD KNOCK GYM
- MAXX
- NEW ENGLAND COMBAT
- ROUGH HOUSE MMA
- SATELLITE
- SITYODTONG
- SITMANGPONG
- SSSF
- THE CLINCH
- TRIFORCE
- USMMA
- VICTORY COMBAT ACADEMY
- WAIKRU
Noboundary fight
Like a Phoenix reborn from the ashes Noboundaryfight Promotion will be launching his first event in June 2016 after a lapse of almost 6 years.
This time around Noboundaryfight will be focusing on bringing quality stand ups fights with rules of engagement allowing knees and elbows, sweep and projections.
Women fighters from FAF Gym
Start the week off right get in tomorrow for some training. If you have never been, come in check out one of our programs.